Open the wardrobe, who doesn’t have one or even several hooded sweatshirts? But have you ever been confused: the same women’s pullover hoodie (Women’s Pullover Hoodie), some are deformed after two washes, some are bloated and fat, and some are stuffy in the gym, but they are not warm enough in late autumn. In fact, choosing the right sweatshirt is also a science, it is not the basic model of “casual wear”, but the core of the outfit that can adapt to different scenes and highlight the personality. Today, from the material, version to the scene and the crowd, we will help you choose the perfect sweatshirt that you will love for three years.
1. Let’s look at the essence first: material and craftsmanship determine the “foundation” of the sweatshirt
The durability and comfort of a sweatshirt depend on the material and craftsmanship 80%. As a practitioner who has purchased 500+ sweatshirt styles, I have seen too many inferior goods that are “good-looking on the surface”, and I have also stepped on many pitfalls, so today I will share the dry goods directly with you.
1. If the material is not chosen correctly, the comfort will be half worse
Sweatshirts made of different materials are like friends with different personalities, and the scenes they are suitable for are very different. I once picked a recycled polyester sweatshirt for my sports-loving sister, and she reported that she didn’t stick to her sweat when jogging; And the pure cotton model she chose for her mother, she wears it every day to do housework, saying that it is soft and breathable. How to choose, it is enough to look at this table:
Material type | Core strengths | Adapt to the scenario | Shopping tips |
|---|---|---|---|
Pure cotton | Skin-friendly, breathable, non-irritating, and hygroscopic | Daily commuting, home leisure | Look for 100% cotton logos and avoid the “cotton blend” gimmick |
Fleece | It has strong warmth and feels soft and fluffy | Autumn layering, outdoor camping | Choose a dense suede that is not easy to shed |
Organic cotton | Environmentally friendly, no chemical residues, sensitive skin friendly | Parent-child payment for pregnant women and infants | View organic cotton certification marks (e.g. GOTS) |
Recycled polyester | Quick-drying, breathable, wrinkle-resistant and wear-resistant | Yoga, jogging and other sports scenes | Suitable for high-intensity sweating exercise |
Wool blend | Warm and not bloated, textured | Winter daily, light business and leisure | The wool content is 30%-50% optimal, avoid skin pricking |
2. The fit and weight hide the password of “taller and thinner”
Many people ignore the key indicator of gram weight, which is directly related to the thickness and crispness of the sweatshirt. 250g is a thin model, suitable for spring and autumn; 320g-360g is a medium-thick model, the most cost-effective, and can be worn in all seasons; A heavy sweatshirt weighing more than 400g, with a stiff version and not easy to collapse, is the first choice for American retro style.
The version should be “prescribed the right medicine” according to the figure. My 158cm colleague always likes to wear short sweatshirts with high-waisted pants, and visually the leg length is directly increased by 10cm; And chubby friends wear loose models with dropped shoulders, which can cleverly cover the flesh of the arms and waist and abdomen. To sum up: choose short and high-waisted for small people, choose loose shoulders for slightly chubby people, choose straight legs for a well-proportioned figure, and choose bat sleeves if you want to be lazy.
3. Craftsmanship details, distinguish between “FMCG” and “durable models”
See the true chapter for details. Inferior sweatshirts often have loose necklines and messy threading, and good sweatshirts will work hard in these places: double-needle threading makes the seams stronger, and the threads will not open no matter how many times you wash them; The ribbed closure has good elasticity, will not deform, and can also protect against wind; The drawstring adjustment design is flexible, and it can be loose or tight to fit different face shapes; The style with kangaroo pocket is practical and age-reducing, making it convenient to put your phone and warm your hands. If it is a model with a print, give preference to embroidered logo or flock print, which is more wear-resistant than offset printing and will not crack after a few washes.
2. Scene is king: a sweatshirt that is suitable for all life scenarios
A good sweatshirt should not be “limited”, choose the right style for different scenes, and the practicality will be directly doubled. I did a user survey and found that the most common scenarios for wearing sweatshirts are concentrated in sports, daily life, outdoor and home, and the corresponding needs are completely different.
1. Sports and fitness: Quick-drying and breathability are the core
Wearing a sweatshirt during exercise is the most afraid of sweat sticking to the body. Last year, I customized a batch of sweatshirts for the gym, specially chose recycled polyester fabric, with four-sided elastic ingredients, whether it was yoga stretching or jogging, there would be no sense of restraint. With a focus on quick-drying and breathability, the neckline can be semi-open for easy heat dissipation. Don’t choose pure cotton sports sweatshirts, which become heavier after absorbing sweat and are easy to catch a cold.
2. Everyday Leisure: Versatility and durability are key
The sweatshirt worn every day should take into account various scenarios such as shopping, commuting, and travel. I always have a Morandi-colored cotton sweatshirt, which is casual with jeans, and can be commuted with suit pants. If you want to go to the airport, choose a loose dropped shoulder model, which is comfortable and photogenic; For a weekend walk with the dog or coffee, a model with a small embroidery is sophisticated enough and does not look casual.
3. Outdoor warmth: windproof and antistatic are indispensable
When camping or hiking outdoors, sweatshirts are usually worn as a mid-layer, so windproof and antistatic are important. I brought a fleece sweatshirt with a thin fleece inside and a slight windproof coating on the outside, layered in a jacket that was warm and not bloated. Choose a style with a high collar to protect the neck from the cold, and the layering effect is also better.
4. Home comfort: Soft and easy to care for is preferred
Home sweatshirts pursue “how comfortable and how to come”. Coral velvet or lambswool styles are most suitable for autumn and winter, and it is especially warm to nest on the sofa and watch dramas. Focus on the characteristics of machine washability, no linting, and anti-pilling, saving the trouble of maintenance. Many brands now have sofa sets, sweatshirts with pants of the same fabric, a set is particularly convenient to wear, and you can go downstairs directly to pick up the express delivery.
3. Different styles: wear your exclusive temperament
Sweatshirts are no longer “passers-by”, different styles of design, can wear completely different temperaments. According to the trend trends in recent years, the four styles of minimalist, retro, street and feminine are the most popular, and the corresponding style characteristics are also very distinct.
1. Minimalist solid color: the representative of quiet luxury
This year, the quiet luxury style is particularly popular, and the minimalist solid color sweatshirt is the core item. Choose basic colors such as cream, black, gray and white, without extra patterns, and rely on the texture of the fabric to win. I recommend pairing it with pants or skirts of the same color to create a “color-matching outfit” that is full of luxury. This kind of sweatshirt can be worn by both newcomers to the workplace and mature women, and you can’t go wrong.
2. Retro nostalgia: Back to the 90s campus time
American retro style has been particularly popular in the past two years, and sweatshirts are no exception. The 90s campus model is usually washed in old color, with a darker color and a university lettering or vintage print. I bought a navy blue vintage sweatshirt with jeans and canvas shoes, and it instantly felt like a campus. This style is recommended to choose a loose fit, which has a more retro taste.
3. Street trendy brands: personality can’t be hidden
For sisters who love street style, the oversize sweatshirt is a must-have. Graffiti prints, destruction of aging, reflective strips can highlight personality, and the co-branded limited edition is a trendy standard. The most stunning combination I’ve ever seen is an oversize sweatshirt with a drawstring hem, paired with cargo pants, which is cool and sassy. However, pay attention to the proportions, small people can tuck the hem of the sweatshirt into the pants to avoid pressing the height.
4. Feminine femininity: Gentleness in the details
If you want to show your feminine temperament with a sweatshirt, you have to work the details. The short waistless design accentuates the waistline, the waist drawstring can be adjusted freely, the macaron color is more gentle than the bright color, and the puff sleeves or embroidered floral elements add a sense of sophistication. There is also a particularly cute rabbit ear hat design, which is age-reducing and playful, very suitable for dating or traveling with girlfriends.
Fourth, four-season adaptation: sweatshirts are not “exclusive to autumn and winter”
Many people think that sweatshirts are only suitable for autumn and winter, but in fact, if you choose the right style, you can wear it in all seasons. According to the characteristics of different seasons, I have sorted out the corresponding purchase points, so that your sweatshirt will not be idle all year round.
1. Spring: thin and breathable, mainly fresh
Choose a thin terry material for spring sweatshirts, which are breathable and not stuffy. The color can be light pink and light green, and the style with fresh flowers is very springy. The windproof turtleneck design can cope with the temperature difference between morning and evening, and the style of removing the hat is more flexible, and it is the basic model when you don’t want to wear a hat.
2. Autumn: medium and thick and lazy, layering artifacts
Autumn is the best season to wear a sweatshirt, and medium-thick fleece is just right. The color is caramel brown, pumpkin orange, and other deciduous leaves, which are especially suitable for the occasion. The most classic way to wear it is to layer a shirt, the neckline of the sweatshirt exposes the shirt collar to create a sense of layering, and the dropped shoulder design adds a lazy atmosphere, which looks good anyway.
3. Winter: thickened and warm, wind resistance is preferred
Winter sweatshirts must be warm, thickened lambswool or padded models are preferred. The high-neck neck gaiter design can withstand the cold wind, and the wind-resistant double-layer fabric is suitable for the low temperature weather in the north, and there are even models with electric heating layers, especially suitable for sisters who are afraid of the cold. Pair it with a down jacket or coat for warmth and style, and it’s no problem to wear in the snow.
4. Cross-season: flexible and practical, wear multiple clothes
If you want to reduce the burden on your wardrobe, cross-season sweatshirts are a good choice. Detachable sleeve design, when it is hot, the sleeves are removed to become a vest, and when it is cold, the sleeves are put on to be a sweatshirt; The 2-in-1 style is thin fleece on the inside and breathable fabric on the outside, so it can be worn in spring, autumn and winter. There are also technical fabrics that focus on temperature adaptation, which can adjust comfort according to body temperature and achieve all-weather wearing freedom.
5. Accurate matching: exclusive sweatshirts for different groups of people
The purchase of sweatshirts is never “one-size-fits-all”, and the needs of different groups of people, small people, plus-size girls, pregnant women, and teenagers vary greatly. As a buyer, my main focus is on “inclusive design”, so that everyone can find a sweatshirt that suits them.
1. Small people: short high waists, showing height is king
The core of choosing a sweatshirt for small people is to “raise the waistline”. Short leg length is the basic requirement, the length is 5cm above the waistline, with high-waisted jeans or a short skirt, the proportion instantly improves. Choose XS/S in size to avoid oversize, the navel-length style is more suitable for spring and summer, and in autumn and winter, you can choose a customized model with shorter sleeves to avoid over-length sleeves pressing down on height.
2. Plus-size girls: loose and inclusive, covering the flesh and looking thin
Plus-size girls wear sweatshirts, choose the exclusive size of 3XL-5XL, avoid wearing “men’s plus size”, the version does not fit but looks fat. Loose and not tight is the foundation, the design of the side seams moving forward can modify the waist and abdomen curve, the dropped shoulder style embraces the flesh of the arms, and the dark color is thinner than the bright color. I once helped a 200-pound client choose a sweatshirt, and she reported that the design that covers the flesh and slims makes her more confident.
3. Pregnant women: comfortable and safe, easy to adjust
The focus of maternity sweatshirts is to “not strangle the belly”. The abdominal circumference widening design can adapt to different pregnancy periods, and the hem adjustment function is easy to adjust according to the abdominal circumference. If you are a breastfeeding mother, choose a style with a breastfeeding invisible zipper, which is more convenient for breastfeeding, and the fabric is preferably organic cotton, which is safe and non-irritating.
4. Teenagers: Youthful and energetic, full of personality
Teenagers’ sweatshirts should highlight the “sense of youth”. The college logo and age-reducing prints are popular elements, and the pink color scheme is very popular with girls. The demand for girlfriend outfits and couples is also very high, and the patterns can be cartoon, anime or popular IP, and the sizes are complete from S to XL to meet the needs of different body types.
6. Procurement perspective: Yigu’s product selection suggestions
As a Sourcing Agent who has been deeply involved in the field of clothing procurement for 8 years, I would like to give you some advice from the perspective of supply chain. When choosing a sweatshirt, give priority to the “fabric test report”, especially the formaldehyde content and color fastness, to avoid inferior fabrics from damaging the skin. If you purchase in bulk, it is recommended to confirm the “pre-shrinkage” link with the factory, and many sweatshirts are deformed after washing because they have not been pre-shrinked. This year’s trend is “functionality + appearance”, such as spring sweatshirts with sun protection and winter sweatshirts that can be heated, which are more competitive in the market. If you want to buy personally, look for factory stores with a good reputation, which are more cost-effective than FMCG brands.
7. FAQs of FAQs
Q1: How to avoid shrinkage and deformation of sweatshirts after washing?
Answer: When purchasing, ask whether it has been pre-shrunk, use warm water below 30 °C when washing, avoid exposure to the sun, and hang to dry. The cotton sweatshirt can be washed for the first time with a small amount of salt to prevent fading.
Q2: What is the difference between a heavy sweatshirt and an ordinary sweatshirt?
Answer: the weight of heavy sweatshirts is usually more than 360g, the fabric is thicker, the version is stiff and not easy to collapse, wear-resistant and wearable, suitable for retro style and street style; Ordinary sweatshirts have a low gram weight, are thinner and lighter, and are suitable for daily life and sports.
Q3: Can maternity sweatshirts be worn until postpartum?
A: Yes. Choose a style with hem adjustment and nursing zipper, which can also be worn during postpartum lactation, it is recommended to choose dark colors, dirt-resistant and easy to care for, and the fabric should be machine-washable pure cotton or organic cotton.
Q4: How to match different styles of sweatshirts and accessories?
Answer: Minimalist style with pearl necklace or thin bracelet; vintage with baseball cap and canvas bag; street style with daddy shoes and metal necklaces; Feminine style with berets and small leather shoes, accessories should be simple and not eye-catching.